Peg for string musical instruments



Nov. 17, 1931. o. GILBERT PEG FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 13, 1928 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 1,832,379

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OTTO GILBERT, OF TUBINGEN, GERMANY PEG FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed October 13, 1928, Serial No. 312,337, andin Germany September 13, 1928.

This invention relates to a peg for string instruments of any kind, specially violins, alto-Violas, cellos, violas and the like. It is characterized in that the conical stem of the peg is made of metal and rotatably inserted specially also under climatically unfavourable conditions, permanently a uniform smooth rotation which cannot be obtained with the commonly used pegs. The duration of the peg is considerably increased as there is almost no wear compared with the commonly used pegs of wood rotating on wood. The conical sliding end portions of the peg are of greater diameter than the intermediate neck-shaped portion on which the end of the string is wound. By this arrangement a very finely staged tuning is obtained, specially for steel strings, as the string winds up on the intermediate portion of small diameter more slowly than on the commonly used pegs of uniform conicity. The turning requires further a minimum exertion of power, as the active lever arm of the pulling string is only about half so long as the outer braking portions. The peg cone need therefore be pressed into the peg box only with a fraction of the pressure necessary for the commonly used wooden pegs, in order to secure the same against backward rotation, The cone of the metal peg needs further not be so steep as the cone of the commonly used wooden peg, to give the same the necessary hold, whereby an increased resistance against back rotation is obtained already at slight counter pressure. To avoid the onerous pressing of the peg into the peg box during the tuning, a head screw or the like is arranged in the end of the peg, the head of said screw preventing slipping out of the peg. A number of thin intermediate discs or washers are inserted at the end of the peg and held by a counter screw. The fitting of the peg is effected in the simplest manner by inserting or removing one or several washers and by selecting washers of according thickness. When, after a certain time, the peg has no longer suflicient friction a washer is removed and the counter screw more tightened, whereby the friction of the peg in the peg box is regulated or increased. No readjusting is necessary when the peg rotation has been once correctly adjusted, as a metal cone is not influenced by climatic influences and no wearing worth mentioning is causedby friction. The handle of the peg ismade of wood and fixed in the metal stem. As all parts of the peg,

when the same is readily mounted, are solidly and rigidly connected the idle run which easily occurs with pegs of known construction and which makes accurate tuning impossible can never occur. For the same reason it is impossible that rattling or buzzing of loose parts occurs.

A peg constructed according to the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the Fig. 2 shows in end View the open end of the conical portion of the peg stem.

' Fig. 3 shows in section, on larger scale, the

head screw screwed into the end of the peg.

The neck of the instrument or peg-box a:

has at predetermined distances apart two conical bores b in which the pegs 0 are inserted so that they can be rotated. The stem of each peg is made of metal according to the invention, so that friction of metal on,

wood is obtained, whereby a strong uniform friction is produced. The stem of the peg consists of two thick end portions 9 and of a thin intermediate portion d on which the string 6 is wound. By the stepped peg a favourable lever power is obtained for stretching the strings. The head f of the peg is made of wood and fixed in any convenient manner in the sleeve-like end portion 0 of the peg. As shown in the drawings the part 0 of the metal peg is sleeve-like. Th inner boring of this part 0 is also conical and has fine teeth on. The shank h of the head f is conical according to the boring of sleeve 0 and pressed into the fine teeth m so that the head f is securely held in the stem. T5

further secure the head in the stem a transverse bolt 2' may be driven through the sleevelike part 0. The peg is securely held in the peg-box a by a screw 72 with large fiat head. Between the head of the screw and the end face of the peg thin washers Z are inserted by means of which the rotation of the peg can be regulated. The headof screw lo -is sunk in the side wallof the peg-box a and the projecting rim of the screw head slides on the Wall of the box, when the pegis being turned. 7

The metal part of the peg is preferably made of light ,metal sothat the improved peg is not heavier than the commonly used wp de pe Thehead of handle f of the peg might also be of metal. If the pegand the head are 'made in one piece and of metal, a, wooden disc may be inserted in the handle. The

Y metal ,pegflmight be made of'cast metal or turned from'a solid block of metal.

' I claim A peg for string musical instruments made from a single piece. of lightmetal, comprising in combination with the peg box, a conical stemlof the peg .rotatably' mounted in the two side walls of said pegibox, and having a reduced central portion for winding its string, interchangeable .washers .in the, wall of said box, and a screw engaging in the outer end of said peg and on the outer wall of said peg box adapted to coact, with said washers to determine the depthof engagement, and regulate the movement'of said peg in said box, and having an edgesurfacebearinga ainst the outer Wallof said peg box considera llly smaller than its bearing surfaceon said washers,

to prevent the automatic working loose, of i said peg in said peg box.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' OTTO GILBERT. 

